Clothesline prop



June 11, 1929. w. KANTf-:R

CLOTHESLINE PROP lFiled March 17, 1924 Patented June 1l, 1929.

WILLAM KANTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AES-SIGNOR TO THE PRESSED METAL PROD- UClS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OI^ IIO,-A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

n 1,716,779 PATENTHOFFICE-` CLOTI-IE'SLINE PROP.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,720.

This invention relates to an improved clothesline prop, and its objects are to simplify the construction; very materially reduce the cost of production; increase the 5 durability; and 'facilitate andeXpedite the manufacture of devices of this character.

My improved prop, like others preceding it, is made up of three general elements, towit, a stall?, a head, and a barb. The most lo desirable prop of the prevailing types wherewith I am familiar has the head and barb constituted ot' malleable' castings, each the headand. the barb having a conical socket into which a tapered end of the stati' is engaged, the part being held to the stati by a-nail which is engaged through a hole in the wall ot' the socket. Such a construction requires the tapering of the ends of the stati in order to properly tit them within 2o the sockets ot the head and barb, and in the maufacture of the props itis unusual it the parts tit properly because to effect such a tit would require more time and skill than the commercial value of the prop would warrant. Consequently the heads and barbs ot such props are usually loose, and the one nail which holds each to the statil is very likely to loosen with the result that the parts separate. Furthermore, the production of props of this character is quite expensive, the malleable iron fittings alone costing considerable aside from the special treatment of `the stati for its proper engagement with the fittings. y, The objections to the prevailing types of props are completely eliminated in my present construction as will appear from the following description, Areference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein Figs. l and 2 are elevational views, at right angles to each other, and Fig.` 3 is a sectional view, of my improved clothesline prop.

The stati, which may bemade ot any suitable wood, is designated 1, and to its upper end is applied a head 2 and to its lower end a barb 3. The stali is of the same cross section from end to end. The stock from which the staffs are made may be finished in long pieces and cut up into the desired lengths at a very nominal cost. They are then ready for the application of the heads and barbs.

The head is very simply made ot two pieces of strap metal that are joined together, as by a rivet 5, to produce a neck 6. The parts may be spot welded or otherwisey connected in lieu of the method illustrated. Above the neck the straps are curled inwardly, one over and spaced from the other, to eliect a line confining hook 7 of usual form. Below the neck 6 the straps diverge for a distance and then continue substantially parallel to each other for engagement on oppositesides ot the stati 1. The straps are perforated for nails 9, and the perforations of the strap on one side of the stall" are otlset with respect to those on the other, and the nails are of such' a length that, when driven through the stati, the ones entering from one side clinch against the metal strap on the opposite side.

By reason of the fact that the straps may be readily separated more or less, they may be made to snugly lit stalis yof varying thicknesses within a reasonable range. Consequently, the heads may be turned out in quantities, as may also the staffs and any head may be applied to any stati1 with assurance that the parts may be made to lit properly together without the slightest ditiiculty, and when the nails 9 are driven into the staff there is no possibility of the head becomingV loose.

The barb 3 is constructed of a single piece ot sheet metal and comprises Va pyramidal portion l0 from the base of which extend cheeks l1 that are engaged on opposite sides of the statt' and secured thereto by nails 12. lVhile the base ot the barb engages the Hat end of the stati in such a way as to prevent ,the barb from turning with respect to the stati", one of the cheeks l1 may be indented, as shown at 13, or have a nail or tack engaged through an aperture in it in a very obvious manner, to hold the barb more securely against turning uponthe nails l2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In a clothesline prop, the combination of a stati', a head applied to one end or' said stali;l and consisting oi two straps of metal having parts intermediate their ends connected together to providev a neck, the outer ends of said straps beyond said neck being curled inwardly, one over and spaced from the other to define a line coniining hook, the

inner ends of said straps below the neck diverging for a short distance and then continuing; in substantially parallel relation to being of such a length that, when driven each other {folengagement'on opposite sde'S thionghythe staff "the ones .eriteling from one of said steli', each of said straps being persde'of thestalf will clinch against the metal 10 forated to receive nails therethrough, the strap on the opposite side of thestai.

5 pertevutions of the stlfnpsonone sideof the In 'testimony whereof, I hereunto alx my staff being `offset with respect lto those on signature.y 4 A the opposite side of the staff and the nails WILLIAM KANTER. 

